'Ill-founded Allegation': Election Commission Rejects Jairam Ramesh’s 'Slow Counting' Claim on Haryana Polls

Responding to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s allegations of slow counting of votes in Haryana, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday said that around 25 rounds across all the assembly constituencies are being updated every five minutes, testifying to the dissemination of the counting process in a speedy manner.

The poll body also shared details of the counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana in a letter to Ramesh. As of 1.35 pm, counting on 1,128 rounds were completed out of a total of 1,501 rounds in Haryana. In Jammu and Kashmir, only 156 rounds were pending as of 1.35 pm with counting completed on 1,043 rounds.

“In view of the above, I am directed to convey that the Commission unequivocally rejects your attempt to surreptitiously give credence to irresponsible, unfounded and uncorroborated malafide narrative,” the poll body told the Congress MP in the letter.

In a post on social media site X, Ramesh had accused that, like the April-June Lok Sabha elections, there is again a slowing down of uploading up-to-date trends on Haryana on the ECI website. “Is the BJP trying to build pressure on administration by sharing outdated and misleading trends @ECISVEEP?” he said.

Later, the Congress media department head also wrote to the poll body. In his memorandum, Ramesh requested immediate directions to officials to update the website with true and accurate figures “so that the false news and malicious narratives can be countered immediately”.

The poll body wrote to Ramesh saying around 25 rounds across all the constituencies are being updated every five minutes that “testifies dissemination of the counting process in a speedy manner”.

The commission also noted that previously on June 4, when the counting for the Lok Sabha elections took place, a somewhat similar concern was raised by the Congress which was “ill founded” and “dismissed” by the ECI.

“The Commission categorically responded that counting of votes is being carried out as per Rule 60 of Conduct of Election Rules at the designated counting centres and by the designated authorities following the statutory and regulatory regime,” the ECI said in the letter.

About the counting of votes in J&K and Haryana, the ECI reiterated that the entire counting process is unfolding in the presence of candidates, observers, and micro-observers as per the statutory scheme.

“There is nothing on record to substantiate your ill-founded allegation of slowdown in updating of results. Your Memorandum also does not bring out any contrary facts as to the delay at any of the constituencies in Haryana or J&K,” the ECI added.